Ficus plant named ‘ESFIDECLO1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Ficus plant named ‘ESFIDECLO1’ which is characterized by the combination of an obovate to broad oblong plant profile, an abundance of dark green, glossy foliage, foliage with a light green abaxial surface and a prominent red main vein, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Ficus elastica.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Ficus disclosed hereinhas been given the variety denomination ‘ESFIDECLO1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘ESFIDECLO1’ originated as a naturally occurring, whole-plantmutation of Ficus elastica ‘Robusta’ (not patented). In the summer of2015, the inventor discovered the mutation at his commercial greenhousein 's-Gravenzande, the Netherlands, growing amongst a cultivatedpopulation of ‘Robusta’ plants. The mutation was noted for its darkgreen, glossy foliage and red main veins on the abaxial leaf surface andwas subsequently isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm thedistinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Uponconfirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘ESFIDECLO1’ was selectedfor commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ESFIDECLO1’, by way ofstem cuttings, was first initiated in September of 2015 at a commercialgreenhouse in 's-Gravenzande, the Netherlands. ‘ESFIDECLO1’ wassubsequently propagated by way of meristematic tissue culturemicropropagation. Through ten subsequent generations, the uniquefeatures of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ESFIDECLO1’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘ESFIDECLO1’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘ESFIDECLO1’ as a new and distinct Ficus cultivar:

-   -   1. Ficus ‘ESFIDECLO1’ exhibits an obovate to broad oblong plant        profile; and    -   2. Ficus ‘ESFIDECLO1’ exhibits an abundance of dark green,        glossy foliage with a light green abaxial surface and a        prominent red main vein; and    -   3. Ficus ‘ESFIDECLO1’ exhibits foliage with an upright attitude        and a somewhat arching aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘ESFIDECLO1’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in 's-Gravenzande, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 25 weeks old, shown planted ina 19 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage of ‘ESFIDECLO1’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage of ‘ESFIDECLO1’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements were made in August of 2020and describe a sample set of six 25 week-old ‘ESFIDECLO1’ plants grownin 19 cm nursery pots, at a greenhouse in 's-Gravenzande, theNetherlands. Plants were produced in a greenhouse with full sunexposure, ebb and flood irrigation tables, no supplemental fertilizer,and no preventative or pest control measures utilized.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘ESFIDECLO1’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘ESFIDECLO1’ and a comparison with the parentplant and most similar commercial variety of Ficus are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Plant form.—Obovate to broad oblong.        -   Average height.—39.2 cm from the soil level to the top of            the foliar plane.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 30.7 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Propagation type.—Stem cuttings and meristematic tissue            culture.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 40 days to            produce a rooted cutting at approximately 25 degrees            Celsius.        -   Time to produce a finished plant.—Approximately 18 weeks to            produce a marketable finished plant in a 17 cm pot.        -   Disease and pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to typical Ficus elastica pests and diseases            has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            through 13 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate to high tolerance to rain; low to moderate            tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Moderately dense, moderately branched rooting;            roots are slightly fibrous.        -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Moderately deep.        -   Diameter of roots.—1.5 mm on average.        -   Texture.—Smooth; no root hairs.        -   Color.—Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 162D.-   Stems and branches:    -   -   General branching habit.—Basally branched main stems; no            lateral branching. Pinching isn't required but will improve            branching. Stems produce a milky exudate when damaged.        -   Length.—Approximately 23.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 2.4 cm.        -   Attitude.—Near vertical.        -   Aspect.—Rounded.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous, and sparsely lenticellate;            lenticels are 0.1 cm long and 0.05 cm wide, and colored            greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture of RHS 164B and 164C.        -   Luster.—Very slightly glossy.        -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 152B.        -   Color, mature.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148A; stem            surface exhibits a lighter shade of yellow-green when            sheltered from ultraviolet light exposure, nearest to a            mixture of RHS 146B and 146C.        -   Color at the leaf nodes.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148A            yet slightly darker; node surface exhibits a lighter shade            of yellow-green when sheltered from ultraviolet light            exposure, nearest to a mixture of RHS 146B and 146C. A thin            radial band around the stem is also present at the nodes;            average width of the band is 0.04 mm and is colored            greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 164B.        -   Color of the oldest wood.—Nearest to in between yellow-green            and greyed-green, RHS 147A and N189A yet slightly darker;            axially striped greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture of RHS            164A and 164B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Quantity.—10 leaves per main stem.        -   Attitude.—Upward and outward.        -   Lamina.—Shape — Broad ovate. Aspect — Moderately carinate;            slightly arched. Dimensions — 18.5 cm long and 13.6 cm wide.            Apex — Broad abruptly acute. Base — Rounded. Margin —            Entire; slightly revolute. Texture of the adaxial surface —            Smooth, glabrous. Small circular glands are randomly placed            along the margins; glands are 0.03 cm wide and colored            yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D. Texture of the abaxial            surface — Smooth and glabrous. Luster of the adaxial surface            — Glossy. Luster of the abaxial surface — Matte to very            slightly glossy. Color — Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface —            Nearest to in between green and yellow-green, RHS 137A and            147A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to a mixture of RHS 144B, 146B and 146C; lightly            suffused with a more yellowish coloration, nearest to RHS            152A. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in            between green and greyed-green, RHS 137A and N189A yet            slightly darker. Mature foliage, abaxial surface —            Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147B. Venation — Pattern —            Pinnate. Color, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between            yellow-green and greyed-brown, RHS 152B and 199B; nearest to            199B. Color, abaxial surface — Greyed-red, nearest to a            mixture of RHS 178A and 178B. Petiole — Length — 1.7 cm.            Diameter — Petioles flattened; 0.4 cm high and 0.6 cm wide.            Strength — Strong. Texture — Smooth and glabrous. Luster —            Moderately glossy. Color, adaxial surface — Greyed-green,            nearest to RHS 197A yet slightly darker. Color, abaxial            surface — Nearest to in between yellow-green and            greyed-green, RHS 148A and 197A. Stipule — General — A            single stipule is present at the base of each leaf,            enveloping leaf buds prior to leaf opening; stipule drops            away once leaf opens. Shape — Lanceolate. Length — 13.0 cm.            Diameter — 2.3 cm. Aspect — Concave. Apex — Narrowly acute.            Base — Broad cuneate. Margin — Entire. Texture, adaxial —            Smooth and glabrous. Texture, abaxial — Smooth and glabrous.            Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 152B.            Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 152B.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.-   Comparison with the parent plant: Plants of the new cultivar    ‘ESFIDECLO1’ differ from the parent, Ficus elastica ‘Robusta’ (not    patented), which is also the most similar commercial variety known    to the inventor, in the following characteristics described in Table    1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘ESFIDECLO1’ ‘Robusta’ General plant Obovate tobroad Obovate. profile. oblong. Foliage apex. Broad abruptly acute.Acute. Size of the main Larger than those of Smaller than those ofstems. ‘Robusta’. ‘ESFIDECLO1’. Abundance of More abundant than Lessabundant than foliage. ‘Robusta’. ‘ESFIDECLO1’. Foliage size. Largerthan those of Smaller than those of ‘Robusta’. ‘ESFIDECLO1’.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Ficus plantnamed ‘ESFIDECLO1’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.